Richfield Police Investigate Man's Death

Updated: 12/03/2013 7:15 PM KSTP.com
By: Kate Renner

Photo: Photo: KSTP/Kate Renner

One man is dead after a report of an assault at a home in Richfield Sunday morning, according to Richfield police.

Officers were called to a home on the 7300 block of 12th Avenue South, around 5 a.m., to an assault-in-progress. Officers found the victim with multiple puncture wounds, inside the home when they arrived. Officers administered first aid, but the 48-year old man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Richfield police confirm the victim was the homeowner. Neighbors and property records identify the homeowner as 48-year-old Habibi Tesema, who lived at 7338 12th Ave. S. since 2002, and just this year, his wife came to live with him from Ethiopia.

"He had been back and forth from Ethiopia and brought her back as his wife with two little children, who are absolutely adorable," said next-door neighbor Ilene Holen.

Neighbors say Habibi's sister lived in the apartment in the basement, and Habibi worked at the airport..

"They have just been the kind of neighbor you'd like to have," Holen said.

A woman was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police are questioning her and they are also questioning the two other adults who witnessed the assault.

Police say they are not looking for any suspects, saying the neighborhood is safe, and neighbors have no reason to be on alert.